Takeaway dash Pc taken off roads

The incident happened on Pc Stephen Akrill's 41st birthday

A policeman who was cleared of speeding on his way to pick up a takeaway has been removed from traffic duties.

Pc Stephen Akrill was caught by a speed camera in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, driving a police Land Rover at 48mph in a 40mph zone in February last year.

Magistrates let him off after he said he had been on his way to an accident.

South Yorkshire Police said he had received a personal reprimand from the Chief Constable and been permanently removed from traffic duties.

A force spokeswoman said: "Such reprimands are normally dealt with by an officer of the rank of superintendent, but the Chief Constable wanted Pc Akrill to understand how his conduct had directly led to a lowering in public confidence in the police."

Road accident

The Chief Constable, Meredydd Hughes, is head of road policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Pc Akrill told the court last year that he had decided to help after receiving reports of a serious road accident on the evening of 13 February last year.

But when he heard other units had responded he aborted his journey and went to the takeaway instead.

However, the court heard he had not been called to respond to the crash, did not have sirens or blue lights on and was not taking the quickest route to the scene.

He was spotted by a motorist triggering a speed camera and then entering the Wickersley Cantonese takeaway, emerging minutes later with several bags of food.

But the officer denied speeding and was cleared after a day-long trial.